Vivaldi began his studies of the violin at an early age and soon after mastered the harpsichord as well, but his interests in music were but a part of his charismatic personality. Having an interest in religious matters Vivaldi entered the priesthood, being trained for the priesthood by the Fathers of St. Geniniano but this venture lasted only briefly for soon after his ordination in 1703 he ceased to say Mass for good. Yet Vivaldi remained, at least on the outside, pious. The inscription ‘Laus Deo’ appears frequently in his manuscripts.
In 1703 Vivaldi obtained his first official post as maestro di violino at the Pio Ospeadale della Pieta, one of four Venetian institutions devoted to the care of orphaned, abandoned and indigent girls and specialized in the musical training of those who showed signs of promise. Services at the Pieta were a focal point in the social calendar of the Venetian nobility and visiting dignitaries. Therefore it was essential to have competent and well rehearsed young singers and players. A traveler, Charles de Brosses, wrote of the Pieta; "They are reared at public expense and trained solely to excel in music. And so they sing like angels, and play the violin, flute, organ and violoncello, bassoon.....Each concert is given by about forty girls. I assure you there is nothing so charming as to see young pretty girls in white robes with a bouquet of pomegranate flowers in her hair, leading the orchestra and beating time with all the precision imaginable." While employed at the Pieta Vivaldi began to seek recognition as a composer and as such was expected to furnish new oratorios and concertos for every recurring festival at the Pieta. Such draconian demands accounts for the prodigious output of many eighteenth century composers and the speed at which they worked. Vivaldi perhaps holds the record with his opera Tito Manlio, which is said to have been completed in five days. Vivaldi even prided himself on being able to compose a concerto faster than a copyist could copy the parts.
Vivaldi wrote only 25 sonatas for Violin and continuo and like all sonatas for the Baroque follows a standard four movement model. While most sonatas followed the standard Slow-Fast-Slow-Fast or Fast-Slow-Fast-Slow organization, Vivaldi follows a slightly different arrangement. The First movement and Second movements are marked Allegro, the Third movement Adagio and the Final Fourth movement is marked Allegro.
-- Kendall Briggs